Bridge



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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. l G. P. MILLER.

BRIDGE.

No. 467,013. Patented Jan. 12,1892.

Gewyel), Jal/61 UNrTED STATi-s PATENT Ormea.

GEORGE PARSONS-MILLER, OF I-IAVESVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,018, dated January 12, 1892. Application iled May '7, 1891. Serial No. 391.935. (No model.) v

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE PARSONS-MIL- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hawesville, in the county of Hancock and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Bridge, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bridges, an'd especially to that class employed for spanning narrow streams, cuts, dac.; and the objects in view are to provide a bridge of cheap and simple construction, great durability, and which will require but little repair to keep it in order.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will appear in the following description, and the novel-features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a bridge constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of one of the abutments. Fig. 5 is aplan of the bridge.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practice I form in the opposite banks of a stream, cut, or other space to be spanned foundations 1, which foundations are dug or excavated to a depth adapting them to receive 4completely the abutments of the bridge. In

each corner of each foundation 1 I locate a pair of vertical parallel posts 2, the posts of each pair being located a slight distance apart. In front and in Vrear of the opposite pairs of posts 2 I locate transverse anchorbeams 3 and 4, respectively. The anchorbeams 3 have passed therethrough and through each of the posts 2 at the front of the excavation eyebolts 5, the eyes of which are inwardly disposed. Similar eyebolts 6 are passed through the anchor-beams 4, and through the rear pairs of posts 2. Mud-sills 7- rest upon the bottom of the foundation between the longitudinally-opposite pairs of posts 2.l Between the longitudinally-opposite pairs of posts 2 and upon the anchoringbeams 3 and 4 rest longitudinal timbers 8.

The transverse pairs of posts 2 are connected by cross-timbers 9, resting upon the timbers 8 and located at each side of the posts. The

tudinal timbers 14. Securely bolted or otherwise connected to the front sills of each abutment thus constructed is a pair of pillars 15, said pillars being located directly over the front pairs of posts 2. These pillars are preferably formed of sections of slab-iron bolted together and therefore hollow, and are filled to within a short distance of their upper ends, at which points they are provided with transverse openings 16. These pillars are each surmounted by a cap 17.

Iron girders 18 are connected to each pair of pillows and rest upon the front sills 12, and seated upon the sills and connecting the abutments is a pair of beams 19, provided at their extremities with eyes 20. At their centers the beams 19 are let into seats or notches 2l, formed in a transverse supporting yoke or saddle 22, formed of slab-iron and provided near its ends with transverse openings 23, which are in line with the perfor-ations 16 of the longitudinally opposite pair of pillars 15.

Upon the beams 19, which, it will be observed, are connected throughout their length by suitable tie-bolts 24, is laid the surface or flooring 25 of the structure.

To each of the pairs of eyebolts 5 of each abutment are connected cables 26 and 27. These cables are crossed under the timbers 8, are passed up vertically through the eyebolts 6 of the anchoring-beams 4, and the inner cable passed up the inside of the abutment and connected to the eyes 20 of the beams 19. The outer cable passes up the outside of the abutments, through the openings 16 of the pillars, and are connected to turn-buckles 2S and 30, each pair of which is connected by a cable-suspension section 29, passing through the perforations 23 of the saddle 22 and supporting the latter. By means of the turnbuckles 28 and 50 the tension of the cables 26 and 27 may be regulated, as will be apparent.

Braces 3l extend from the filling-timbers Il to the outer sides of the pillars, while braces 32 extend from the inner extended ends of the extension-timbers Il to the inner faces of said pillars.

After constructing the abutments as heretofore described the excavations are completely iilled with earth, the surface of which is up level with the flooring of the bridge, or

1o nearly so. By thus completely burying the abutments the material (wood) of which they are constructed is preserved for a great length of time against decay. The wood from which the timbers are formed is preferably green,

so that decay is the longer postponed. I have found by experience that abutments may be thus cheaply constructed of green and really inferiorwood,and when buried and preserved will last for a long period ot' time.

2o By the above I effect a great saving in expensive masonry,substituting therefor wood, and construct a bridge of great strength, durability, and simplicity, the exposed parts being of metal, and one in which the strain is :5 equalized and disposed in various directions, so that the structure as a whole is capable of withstanding all the various strains usually resulting from swollen ri vers, floating ice, dac.

Having described my in vention .WhatI claim I. In a bridge, an abutment consisting or" pairs of posts located at the t'our corners of a rectangular excavation, sills 12 and I3 connecting the front and rear pairs, respectively,

a series of longitudinally-disposedtimberslocated between the posts of the longitudinallyopposite pairs, and cross-timbers interposed between said longitudinally disposed timbers, the frame or abutment thus formed be- 4o ing filled with dirt, substantially as specified.

2. In a bridge, the combination, with the opposite abutments, each consisting of the four pairs of posts, the posts composing each pair boing arranged vertical and parallel to each other, the timbers connecting these posts to constitute a pen, sills surmounting the posts, and anchor-beams located against the outer faces of the inner posts, of pillars mounted above the inner beams and upon the innersills and. provided with openings, beams 5o spanning the space between and resting upon the inner sills, the transverse saddle located under the beams, and cables connected to the anchoring-beams, to the outer posts, passed through the openings in the upper ends of the pillars, and connected with the transverse saddle, substan tially as specilied.

3. In a bridge, the combination, with the Opposite abutments comprising pairs of posts and timbers connecting the same to form a 6o pen, of anchoring-beams located at the outer sides of the front and rear pairs of timbers, pillars located above the inner posts, sills mounted on the posts and supporting the pillars, tloor-beams connecting the sills and spanningthe space between the same, cables leading from the inner anchoring-beams to the outer anchoring-beams, to which latter they are connected, the inner cables being connected to the floor-beam and the outer ca- 7o bles passed through openings in the pillars, the transverse saddle supporting the floorbeams, and cables passing through perforations in the saddle and connected to the outercables of the pillars, substantially as speciicd.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

GEORGE PARSONSJIILLER. Witnesses: Y

EDWIN BRASHEAR,

E. O. MILLER. 

